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< Back Aidan Howry Aidan Howry Comanche Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Aidan Howry is a proud member of the Comanche Nation. He is the great-great-grandson of Ethel Michobey-Howry, the grandson of John Henry Howry, and the son of John and Lori Howry. Aidan is the most accomplished Junior World Raw Power Heavyweight Lifter in AAU history, as well as the most accomplished multi-organizational Raw Powerlifters in the United States as a whole. Aidan has won the OFBCA State Championship, N.A.S.A. State Championship, AAU State Championship and AAU 13-15 Year Old Champion raw power all at 242 lbs. From ages 12 and 13, Aidan had 315 lbs. Squat, 365 lbs. Deadlift, and an American Full Power total of 850 lbs. all of which he earned A.A.U. American records for. From 14 to 15 years old, Aidan had 264 lbs. Bench Press, 468 lbs. Deadlift, and a total lift amount of 1,157.4 lbs. He proceeded to win the A.A.U. World Championship and set 3 World Records, USPL National Championship, N.A.S.A. National High School Championship, and the OFBCA State Championship at 308 lbs raw power. From 18-19 years old, he won the OFBCA State Championship, the A.A.U. Junior Olympic Championship, an A.A.U American and A.A.U. World Record also weighed in at 308 lbs. raw power. Aidan had a deadlift of 617.5 pounds at the A.A.U. Junior Olympics. This lift earned an American and World Record. Aidan holds four American records, four World records, and one National Record. He was named the Oklahoma All-District Class A Player from 2019-2021, 2021 Class A Lineman of the Year, VYPE Magazine Class A All-State player 2019-2021, Top 100 player in the Daily Oklahoman, and Tulsa World All Metro Offensive Lineman of 2021. Aidan was also invited and participated in the prestigious NBC Sports All American Combine. Aidan has been awarded many football accolades and honors throughout the duration of high school, but currently as an active scholarship student athlete. He received an offer to play Division 1 at University of Central Arkansas where he played in one game as a true freshman. Aidan went on to enter the transfer portal where he received a scholarship to play football at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. At SOSU, he played every game of his Red Shirt freshman year regular season, as well as the Live United Bowl Game. Photo Credits: Dan Hoke and Lori Howry <Back

Greg Henhawk <Back Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach 2024 Greg Henhawk is a Mohawk of the Bear Clan from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario. Henhawk is a retired 32 year secondary school teacher of Science, Physical Education and Alternative Education. In basketball Henhawk has coached over twenty Senior Varsity Zone and District Championship teams. He has coached provincial club and elite development teams earning medals including 12 gold. His Six Nations U15 team placed fourth at the 2000 International Children’s Games. He also worked as an assistant women’s varsity coach at Ryerson and Waterloo universities. He has been an assistant and head coach with Basketball Ontario and Canada Basketball elite development programs and teams including being an Apprentice Coach of the Women’s National U19 team at the FIBA Americas world qualifier 2009 and FIBA World championships 2010. Henhawk has coached over 200 badminton individual and team championships at the Senior Varsity level at the zone, district, regional and provincial level. His field hockey teams in 20 years have won 15 District Championships including a span of 11 years in a row and during that time sporting a 113-0 record in District competition. Henhawk has been on the Project Advisory Group between 1998 and 2003 for the Development of the National Coaching program called “The Aboriginal Coaching Modules (ACM)”. He continues in the ACM program as a Master Learning Facilitator and Learning Facilitator developer. He has delivered over 150 ACM courses in Canada and the United States. He is a past winner of the 2018 Coaching Association of Canada – IG Wealth Management: National NCCP Coach Developer Award. Henhawk is a Founding Board member and present Board of Director for the Coaching Association of Ontario and a member of Canada Basketball’s Unified 2024 Advisory Council with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Henhawk had consulting projects for Holistic Sport Development and Wellness with Recreation North; PHE Canada, Participation, the Respect Group of Canada, Maple Leaf Sport and Entertainment including the Launchpad charity fund and with all 13 Provincial Territorial Indigenous Sport Bodies in Canada. Projects have included: Indigenous Coaching Development for the Mi’kmaq Sport Council of Nova Scotia; The Coaching Association of Canada’s: Indigenous Coach Education and Development Advisory Group; and, the Indigenous Master Coach Developers’ Advisory Group.

< Back Bo Tyler Vocu Bo Tyler Vocu Northern Cheyenne/Oglala Lakota Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Bo Tyler Vocu is a member of the Northern Cheyenne and a descendant of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, with deep roots in rodeo culture. Growing up on his family’s ranch on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Bo was immersed in the world of rodeo from an early age. His grandfather, Clinton Small, was one of the most decorated rodeo cowboys of all time, and both his father, Michael, and his grandfather, Dale, were accomplished bull riders. This rich legacy set Bo on a path to becoming a rodeo champion in his own right. From a young age, Bo exhibited a fierce competitive spirit, competing in every event he could at youth rodeos. His passion for rodeo and his determination to succeed propelled him to excel in rough stock events, including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding—some of the toughest and most dangerous sports in the world. Notably, Bo may be the only rodeo athlete in the nation to have qualified for the Junior High, High School, and College National Finals Rodeos in all three rough stock events. Bo attended New Mexico State University on a rodeo scholarship, where he earned multiple regional titles and contributed to the university’s team championships. His rodeo achievements continued to grow as he qualified for the Indian National Finals Rodeo (INFR) every year since 2010, when junior events were first introduced when he was nine years old. He qualified in the junior breakaway and junior bull riding, and captured the INFR Tour Championship in the junior bull riding. At the age of 15 he qualified in the open bull riding for the first time. Bo has qualified for the INFR in all three rough stock events throughout his career. In 2023, he earned the title of World Champion All Around Runner-Up and continues to win titles at many of the top rodeos across the country. Bo’s success extends beyond the INFR; he is also a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) member. In 2024, he finished in the top 50 in the world standings for bull riding and won several professional rodeo titles, including the Xtreme Bulls event in Buffalo, Wyoming. At the Montana Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals, Bo qualified in saddle bronc and bull riding, ultimately earning the All Around Championship. His sights are now set on qualifying for the PRCA National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, with much more to come in his rodeo career. With a legacy rooted in tradition and a future filled with promise, Bo Tyler Vocu’s rodeo story is far from over. His dedication, skill, and competitive drive continue to inspire fans and fellow rodeo athletes alike. <Back

< Back Glenn Styres Glenn Styres Mohawk Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Glenn Styres started building Ohsweken Speedway in his front yard, a track that has become a top dirt racing destination in Canada. Whether he was building his own Field of Dreams, sponsoring teams from around the world, or as a driver himself, Styres has been a racing industry leader for 30 years. Styres success has been validated internationally by being voted the North American Sprint Car Promoter of the Year eight times. Behind the wheel he was a multi-time champion at his home track, the Ohsweken Speedway and on tour winning the Southern Ontario Sprints Tour Championship multiple times. In recent years Styres has supported international stars like Kyle Larson’s dirt sprint car program as well as being a major sponsor and team owner in the Chili Bowl Nationals and World of Outlaws, including competing himself. Styres is also a role model in the Indigenous community and has a TV series airing on APTN, called Friday Night Thunder, and it takes viewers inside the Ohsweken Speedway. <Back

Introduction: The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) honors and recognizes the indigenous sport cultures of 27 countries of North America by recognizing outstanding leadership and achievement in individual and team athletics. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of the annually inducted individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics and life. Nomination Process: Nominations for individuals and teams to be considered for induction into the annual North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame are accepted throughout the course of the year until the October 21st noon central time deadline. Nominations are accepted for individuals or teams in the following categories: • Athlete • Coach • Team • Builder • Media • Official • Trainer Inductee eligibility: Inductees are recognized and honored, past and present, as Indigenous to North America including but not limited to Tribal, First Nation, Métis, Inuit including federally recognized and self-identified descendant in the listed categories throughout the year. Inductee’s may also be considered who are indigenous to North America and compete outside of North American and those who are indigenous outside of North America and compete in North America. The inductee’s credentials need to include being at the highest state, provincial, region, national or international sport recognition, and/or being recognized in college or professional athletic realms. To receive a nomination form or for additional information, contact Dr. Dan Ninham at 218.368.6430 (text preferred) or coach.danninham@gmail.co m . The annual nomination deadline is noon central time on October 21st for the next year induction. The inductee’s credentials need to include being at the highest state, provincial, region, national, international sport recognition, and/or being recognized in college or professional athletic realms. Induction Recognition: There may be a virtual banquet recognition to be determined. There will not be a hall of fame facility or in person awards banquet. Each inductee will receive a certificate. The stories of the inductees will be produced in online print and video in addition to being in a curriculum to be provided to schools and recreation communities. The induction announcement will be made on January 2nd of each induction class year.

< Back Ryneldi Becenti Ryneldi Becenti Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Ryneldi Becenti is Navajo from the Navajo Reservation. She has been playing basketball since she was five years old. She always had the passion, love, determination and commitment to be the best. She played collegiate and professional basketball and is retired now to continue to give back to the youth. Becenti played basketball at Window Rock High School (AZ) and Scottsdale Community College (AZ) where she was a two-time NJCAA All American. She was a two-time first team All Pac 10 and honorable mention All American at Arizona State University before she turned pro after two seasons. In 1983 she played in Sweden and also played in Greece and Turkey. In 1997 she played for the Phoenix Mercury and also was drafted with the Chicago Condor in 1998. Becenti was also a bronze medalist at the 1983 World University Games. Her induction into the NAIAHF follows five other Hall of Fames she is in including the American Indian Athletic HOF (1996), Arizona State HOF (2004), Arizona High School HOF (2009), Scottsdale Community College HOF (2011), and National Native American HOF (2022). Her Arizona State University #21 was retired on 12-21-2013. <Back

< Back Ben Strong Ben Strong Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete/Coach Ben Strong is a member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe. His parents are Edward Strong and Sarah Haskett. Strong is a retired professional basketball player and former coach. He grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After graduating from Chapel Hill High School in 2004, he enrolled at Guilford College (ODAC Conference), an NCAA Division III school in Greensboro, North Carolina. He left Guilford ranked second all-time in scoring (2231) as well as in blocked shots (236) and seventh all-time in rebounding (927). During his time at Guilford he received individual awards, among those are the following: two-time First-Team Division III All-American, NCAA Division III Player of the Year, three-time First Team All-ODAC, and two-time ODAC Player of the Year. In 2007, he was a NABC First Team All-American (Co-Player of the Year) and a D3hoops.com First Team All-American (Player of the Year). Strong launched his professional career in 2008 with Maccabi Haifa in the Israeli Premier League. He also played briefly in the Netherlands, Uruguay, and New Zealand. After playing overseas, he took his game to the NBA Development League, playing for various teams. Then in 2016, Strong played in the NBA Summer League for the New York Knicks. Throughout his career, Strong coached youth during summer camps in the Red lake community, as well as some communities on the east coast, where he lived and eventually started his coaching career. In 2016 when he retired from playing, Strong began working as an assistant men's basketball coach at Huntingdon College, before joining the Philadelphia 76ers’ staff as a player development specialist in 2018, then the Phoenix Suns' staff as a player development coach in 2019. In 2021, Strong was hired by the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League to serve as their head video coordinator and player development coach. In 2022, Strong was inducted into Guilford College's Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2025, Strong was also named to ODAC's Inaugural Hall of Fame class. In 2022, Strong retired from coaching to relocate back to NC. He now lives with his wife Lauren and son Fox. <Back

Teams 1999 Iroquois Nationals 2015 Team Canada Women's Soccer

< Back Bernard Clark Bernard Clark Koyukon Athabaskan Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Bernard Clark, an Alaskan born and raised Koyukon Athabaskan, started his sports journey in 2010 with his Native Youth Olympics debut. In 2011 with the support of his high school team Bernard tied the men’s world record for One Hand Reach at 69”, previously held by 2023 NAIAHF inductee Jesse Frankson. This marked the beginning of Bernard’s journey. He then continued to compete in the World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) held annually in Fairbanks, Alaska. In the several years to follow, Bernard supported and paralleled his wife in becoming the NYO coaches of Wasilla High School. With coaching from past and current generation Alaskan athletes like Nicole Johnson, Carol Hull, Casey Ferguson, Kyle Worl, Alexavier Covey and Nick Hanson, Bernard was sure to succeed. In 2013, 2020, and again in 2024 Bernard set new records in the One Hand Reach (71”) and Swing Kick (65”). He also earned medals in several other events including the Blanket Toss, High Kicks, and distance jumping contests. In between competitions Bernard loves to share, volunteer and commit his time and experience to keeping the Alaskan traditional games alive, from radio talk show interviews, filming a segment for BBC, to interviews with a Smithsonian reporter to his yearly stage performances at the Alaska State Fair. Bernard shares his passion for the events in the hopes of the games continuing to grow and thrive. Photos: Teyah Clark and Greg Lincoln <Back

< Back Jana Williams Jana Williams Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Jana Williams got her start in tennis the summer before seventh grade. Her older sister wanted tennis lessons, and Jana golf lessons; so they agreed to take them together. After playing in her first tournament, the captain from the high school team convinced her to try out for the varsity team as a seventh grader, playing #4 singles and 8-12th #1. She was in the top 5 in the Northwest section throughout her junior career, qualifying for Jr. Nationals and then in her sophomore year was awarded a scholarship to Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy in Bradenton, FL. After high school she got pregnant with twins. When they were six months old she returned to school at North Hennepin Community College and played on the tennis team for two years, going undefeated both years and qualified for the NJCAA National tournament. The first year she made it to the semifinals before losing, the following year the quarterfinals. After both years she was offered scholarships to play tennis, but instead of moving away from family, she decided to walk on to the University of Minnesota’s tennis team during the 1993-1994 season. Jana became involved with the organization called the North American Indian Tennis Association (NAITA). She was the Jr. Singles champion in 1987, and Open Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles champion and Runner-up in many NAITA Tournaments. She was a past President in 2016. She also directed tennis clinics at UNITY Conference in Oklahoma City and Washington DC along with Riverside Indian Boarding School, Anadarko OK. It was Jana’s goal to bring tennis to the Native communities across the country and brought the NAITA’s tournament to Minnesota in 2016. She now actively competes in Women's NPC Bodybuilding and teaches anyone who wants to learn a healthy lifestyle how to work out and improve their overall health. Her awards included the 2017 NPC FIGURE Master's 35+ 1st place and Overall Champion, the IRON VIKING, Battle of The Falls Overall Champion and the 2019 Master’s Nationals and NPC Women's Open Physique Brew City and Minnesota State 3rd and 4th places. <Back

< Back Anthony M. Riley Anthony M. Riley Pueblo of Laguna Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Anthony M. Riley is an enrolled member of Pueblo of Laguna and Acting Chief, Division of Workforce Development (DWD) in the Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and Office of Indian Services (OIS). Riley received his Bachelor of Science in Technology Education from the North Carolina State University in 1996. Riley was a three-time NCAA Division I All American and seven-time Atlantic Coast Conference Champion in Track & Field and Cross Country. He is a proud father of three daughters and two sons. In 2003, Riley was selected to the Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary All Cross Country Team. He was recognized as an NCAA DI All American in 1993 in the Outdoor 1500m and Indoor 3000m. In 1992 he was an NCAA DI All American in Cross Country and placed 21st in the national cross country championship. From 1991 to 1996, Riley competed for North Carolina State University and was honored as the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion, and had a one-time Cross Country individual title, two Indoor Track (mile) individual titles, two Outdoor Track (1500m) individual titles, two Cross Country team titles and 1 Outdoor Track & Field team title. In 1990, Riley was named the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council’s Most Valuable Performer at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Cape Cod, MA. He was named the 800m, 1500m, 1600m medley and 1600m relay champion and team champion while at the Northfield Mount Hermon Prep Academy, Northfield, MA. In 1989, also at Northfield Mount Herman Prep Academy, he was named the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council’s Cross Country Individual Runner-Up and Team Champions. Riley had many accolades as a high school athlete at Santa Fe Indian School in Santa Fe, NM. From 1982 to 1989 he was the New Mexico High School Class AA State Champion in Track and Cross Country. He was a two-time champion in the 800m and 1600m, a member of the 1600m medley relay, and Cross-Country individual and team, and also a member of the basketball team. <Back

< Back J.R. Conrad J.R. Conrad Eastern Shawnee Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2022 J.R. Conrad was born and raised in Northeast Oklahoma, and he is an Eastern Shawnee Tribal Member. J.R. grew up in Indian housing with his mom’s side of the family all living under the same roof for much of his childhood. Once he got to high school, he figured out football could pay for school and it could change the trajectory of his life, and future generations of his family. J.R. became an All-State player, a Gatorade Player of the Year for Oklahoma, and a Gatorade Player of the Year for the Southwest US. He went on to play football at the University of Oklahoma, and was the first true freshman to ever start at center in school history. He was a USA Today All American, started in over 40 games, and was a 4-year starter. Played in bowl games, and the Blue Grey All Star Game, got invited to the combine. He was drafted by the New England Patriots and was a part of Super Bowl 31 team, played for Bill Parcells, followed him to the New York Jets, and later spent a short time with the Dallas Cowboys. J.R. has been married to his wife Keisha for 24 years, and they have four children: Hayden, Hudson, Henley, and Holden. <Back